Tanner Morgan
Tanner Morgan (born April 17, 1999) is an American former college football quarterback best known for his tenure as the starting signal-caller for the Minnesota Golden Gophers from 2018 to 2022, during which he compiled a 33–14 record as the team's starter—the most wins by a quarterback in program history.[1][2] Standing at 6 feet 2 inches and weighing 215 pounds, Morgan set 15 school records, including marks for career passing yards, completions, attempts, and touchdowns, while leading the Gophers to multiple bowl appearances and an 11-win season in 2019.[1] After going undrafted in the 2023 NFL Draft, he briefly pursued professional opportunities, including a stint as an undrafted free agent with the Pittsburgh Steelers, a brief practice squad stint with the Minnesota Vikings, and selection in the USFL Draft by the Michigan Panthers, before opting out.[3][4][5] Born in Kentucky, Morgan attended Hazard High School for his freshman and sophomore years before transferring to Ryle High School in Union, Kentucky, where he excelled as a pocket passer and earned a three-star recruiting rating.[6][7] At Ryle, he helped lead the team to a strong record and drew attention from college programs, ultimately committing to Minnesota in 2017 as part of a class that bolstered the Gophers' quarterback depth.[8][7] Morgan's college career began as a backup in 2017 before he took over as the starter in 2018, appearing in nine games with 89 completions on 152 attempts for 1,401 yards, nine touchdowns, and six interceptions.[9] His breakout came in 2019, when he started all 13 games, throwing for 3,253 yards and 30 touchdowns—both single-season school records—while guiding Minnesota to an 11–2 finish and a berth in the Outback Bowl.[1] Over his full career, spanning 51 games with 47 starts, he amassed 9,454 passing yards, 65 touchdowns, and 32 interceptions, with a completion percentage of 62.2%, alongside 5 net rushing yards and 8 rushing touchdowns.[10] Notable performances included a Big Ten record-setting game against Purdue in 2019 and multiple 300-yard outings that underscored his development into a prolific Big Ten quarterback.[1] Following his playing days, Morgan returned to the University of Minnesota in 2023 as an offensive analyst on the football support staff, contributing to game preparation and strategy.[6] By 2025, he had expanded into coaching as a quarterback mentor and made his broadcasting debut as a color analyst for the Big Ten Network, calling a Gophers game against Northwestern State in September.[11][12] His post-playing endeavors reflect a continued involvement in football through analysis, mentorship, and media, leveraging his experience as one of the most accomplished quarterbacks in Gophers history.[11]Early life
Childhood and family background
Tanner Morgan was born on April 17, 1999, in Union, Kentucky.[13][14] Growing up in the suburban northern Kentucky area near Cincinnati, Morgan's childhood emphasized family values and athletics, particularly football, which he began playing at age six.[15] Morgan's family provided a supportive foundation for his early interests in sports. His parents, Pat and Ted Morgan, encouraged his athletic pursuits from a young age; Ted, a commercial real estate agent, took an active role in coaching Tanner's youth football teams and attending his games, fostering a deep bond through shared passion for the sport. This early exposure to football in local leagues helped shape Morgan's competitive drive and work ethic.[16][17] Tragically, Ted Morgan passed away in July 2021 from brain cancer after a 14-month battle that began with a stroke revealing the tumor, profoundly impacting Tanner's life even as he navigated his college career. The loss strengthened Morgan's dedication to football as a tribute to his father and motivated his subsequent philanthropy, including partnerships with cancer support organizations to aid families facing similar challenges.[18][19][20]High school career
In 2013, Morgan's family relocated to Hazard, Kentucky, where his uncle served as defensive coordinator, leading him to attend Hazard High School for his freshman and sophomore years. He transferred back to Ryle High School in Union, Kentucky, ahead of his junior year following the family's return.[6][21] At Ryle, he solidified his role as the starting quarterback, benefiting from the support of his family, who encouraged his development at the position from an early age. In his senior season of 2016, Morgan led Ryle to a 12-1 record, passing for 2,747 yards and 27 touchdowns while demonstrating strong accuracy and decision-making under pressure.[22] His performance helped the Raiders advance deep into the playoffs and showcased his potential as a pocket passer. Rated as a three-star recruit by 247Sports, where he ranked as the No. 44 pro-style quarterback nationally and the No. 5 overall player in Kentucky, Morgan also earned recognition from ESPN as the No. 7 prospect in the state.[7][23] He met NCAA academic eligibility requirements and enrolled early at his chosen college program. Morgan initially committed to Western Michigan in April 2016 after receiving offers from multiple programs, including Louisville and Cincinnati.[24] However, following coach P.J. Fleck's move to Minnesota in January 2017, he flipped his commitment to the Golden Gophers, becoming one of several recruits to follow Fleck from Western Michigan.[25]College career
Early college years (2017–2018)
Tanner Morgan committed to the University of Minnesota in 2017 as a three-star recruit. As a redshirt freshman in 2017, Morgan did not appear in any games for the Minnesota Golden Gophers, spending the season developing behind starting quarterback Mitch Leidner. This redshirt year allowed him to acclimate to the college level, focusing on mastering the team's offensive scheme under head coach P.J. Fleck while preserving a year of eligibility. In his sophomore season of 2018, Morgan served as the backup to Zack Annexstad, appearing in nine games and starting the final six after Annexstad's injury. He completed 89 of 152 passes for 1,401 yards and nine touchdowns with six interceptions. The Golden Gophers finished the year with a 7–6 record, highlighted by a 34–21 loss to Georgia Tech in the Quick Lane Bowl, where Morgan did not play.[26] Throughout these early college years, Morgan emphasized personal growth in interviews, crediting the redshirt period and limited snaps for building his understanding of the offense and preparing him mentally for a potential starting role. He worked closely with coaches to refine his decision-making and footwork, viewing the backup position as essential preparation amid Minnesota's competitive quarterback room.Later college years (2019–2022)
In 2019, as a sophomore, Morgan emerged as the full-time starting quarterback for the Minnesota Golden Gophers, appearing in all 13 games and completing 210 of 318 passes for 3,253 yards, 30 touchdowns, and 7 interceptions—setting school records for single-season passing yards and touchdown passes.[27] His performance helped lead the team to an 11–2 overall record and a 7–2 mark in Big Ten play, culminating in a 26–20 victory over Auburn in the Outback Bowl.[28] The 2020 season, shortened to seven games due to the COVID-19 pandemic and limited to Big Ten conference play, saw Morgan start all contests as a junior, passing for 1,374 yards, 7 touchdowns, and 5 interceptions on 106 of 183 attempts while adding 61 rushing yards.[29] The Gophers finished 3–4 overall and 3–4 in the conference, forgoing a postseason appearance amid health and safety protocols.[30] As a senior in 2021, Morgan started all 13 games, throwing for 2,044 yards, 10 touchdowns, and 9 interceptions on 149 of 250 completions, while the team leaned on a strong rushing attack to average 25.5 points per game.[27] The season was emotionally challenging following the death of his father, Ted Morgan, from a brain tumor in July 2021, yet Morgan provided steady leadership en route to a 9–4 record (6–3 in the Big Ten) and a 18–6 win over West Virginia in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl.[31] Morgan's sixth year in 2022 was hampered by injuries, including an upper-body injury and concussion that caused him to miss the final three regular-season games; he appeared in 9 contests, completing 107 of 160 passes for 1,382 yards, 9 touchdowns, and 5 interceptions.[32] The Gophers ended with a 5–7 record (3–6 in conference), ineligible for a bowl due to the prior year's postseason participation. Over his starting tenure from 2019 to 2022, Morgan compiled a 33–14 record in 47 appearances, the most wins by any quarterback in Golden Gophers history.[1] He completed his master's degree in sport management from the University of Minnesota in 2022.[33]Career statistics and records
During his five seasons with the Minnesota Golden Gophers from 2018 to 2022, Tanner Morgan appeared in 51 games, compiling career passing totals of 9,454 yards, 65 touchdowns, and 32 interceptions on 661 completions out of 1,063 attempts for a 62.2% completion rate.[10] The following table summarizes Morgan's year-by-year passing statistics:| Year | Completions | Attempts | Completion % | Yards | Touchdowns | Interceptions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 89 | 152 | 58.6 | 1,401 | 9 | 6 |
| 2019 | 210 | 318 | 66.0 | 3,253 | 30 | 7 |
| 2020 | 106 | 183 | 57.9 | 1,374 | 7 | 5 |
| 2021 | 149 | 250 | 59.6 | 2,044 | 10 | 9 |
| 2022 | 107 | 160 | 66.9 | 1,382 | 9 | 5 |